The foxglove-like tubular flowers represent a rich bee pasture. With them in possession (from the 2nd year), the foxglove is distinctive and unmistakable. They appear between June and August. But beware: The thimble is under nature protection!

All German species are protected

There are around 25 species of foxgloves. Three of them are native to Germany. These are the red foxglove, the yellow foxglove and the large-flowered foxglove. All three are under nature protection. This means they cannot be collected.

The red foxglove - the most common species in Germany

The foxglove prefers to settle in clearings in forests in this country. There he likes to appear in larger stands and attracts attention with his towering flower clusters. The red foxglove is most commonly found in its wild form in Germany.

'Poisonous Plant of the Year 2007'

Foxglove is considered a biennial and was voted 'Poisonous Plant of the Year 2007'. He's not the only one who's poisonous. Its conspecifics are also all highly poisonous - some more (like the woolly foxglove), others less…

Foxglove: A heart remedy from nature

Although foxglove has medicinal value in relieving heart failure, it is dangerous. You should never take it pure! Doctors prescribe it in near-homeopathic doses, so it's non-toxic. These small amounts stimulate the heart to pump faster and better. But the pure leaves are deadly from a quantity of 2 pieces.

Grow the thimble yourself

The thimble is considered poisonous. However, many gardeners love its flowers and grow it as an ornamental plant. If you want to use the flowers for cutting vases, for example, you should grow the thimble in your own garden and not pick it in the wild.

Here are the advantages of cultivation in your own garden:

  • likes to seed itself
  • does not require a cut
  • grows in sun, partial shade and shade
  • is unattractive to pests

tips and tricks

If you discover a foxglove growing wild on your property, protect your children and pets from it. If you want to remove it, use gloves to avoid the risk of rashes.

Category:

Vegetable garden